Tehran says the move answers Britain’s July decision to list the IRGC under the State Threats Act 2026
Tehran has escalated its confrontation with London. On Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that it was designating the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as “terrorist organisations” and classifying the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, as a “hostile group.”
The ministry said the measures follow a resolution of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and respond to what it called Britain’s hostile actions over the past year. It accused the British government of violating the UN Charter and international law, and said the UK had provided military and logistical bases in territories under its jurisdiction for what it called the US-Israeli war against Iran. It also pointed to Britain’s July 13, 2026 decision to place Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the State Threats Act 2026.
The legal mechanics are specific. MI6 falls under Iran’s law on enhancing punishments for espionage and cooperation with hostile countries. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are covered by an Iranian law passed in response to the US designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. Both took effect on November 1, 2026.
Tehran framed the move as a defensive step taken under international law and the principle of reciprocity. “The British government shall bear responsibility for their consequences,” the ministry said.
The UK’s own listing carries real teeth. Under the law, anyone in the UK who supports or assists the IRGC faces up to 14 years in prison, Al Jazeera reported.
The announcement came alongside blunt military rhetoric. Iran’s army spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, warned that any new war would not be confined to West Asia. He promised an “immediate, crushing response” to any fresh US attack, one “more extensive than in the past,” and said a future conflict could last far longer than earlier ones. He also said Iran’s military doctrine had shifted from a purely defensive stance toward an offensive one some time ago.
Diplomacy is moving on a separate track. Qatari mediators are working on a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s proposal would reopen the waterway within two days if Washington meets Iran’s conditions, which include lifting sanctions and reducing the US military presence in the region. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei, however, says no negotiations will happen unless Iran’s seven demands are met. US President Donald Trump says talks are underway and has warned that Washington could target Iran’s remaining nuclear sites.
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